Christmas Report...a little late.

Christmas was a little different for us this year. The move made it a little hurried, with a little less fluff. We didn't' put out all our decorations, the fluff, (Steve managed to put out more than what I wanted) because we were still trying to find a place for all our "regular" house items. We did seem to squeeze in all our family traditions and activity during the holidays. Christmas cards went out late, again...and we missed the Nutcracker. Next year those will be at the top of list. Here is the run down...

Amy telling Santa what she wanted..."I want an orange camera, just like my sister Rachel's."

It wouldn't be Christmas for us without having the Annual Jensen Christmas Party. Even though it was a little hard to pull it off (two weeks after moving) but, it did keep us motivated to get through all the boxes. The kids had their little Christmas get togethers too.

Christmas Eve PJs..not our normal Christmas Eve present however (was mine growing up). Steve and I's Christmas Eve present has usually been a new family game. Steve put his foot down this year and said not one more game. After packing up all our games to move, he declare we had enough. Party pooper!!
Amy's Dora Christmas nightgown made her so happy that night. Two days earlier when she spotted them at Kohl's all she did was cry because I wasn't buying them right then. Patience Amy...patience. You can't see Alec's PJs, but they are Raider ones. He was a little dissappoited because all he wants these days are Colts stuff. He didn't know what was coming up the next day. Rachel's fit her perfectly.

I love looking at the Christmas tree with Steve late on Christmas Eve (or early Christmas morning) when the kids are all in bed and we finished all the present stuff.

Yep...this is the time on the microwave when the older kids got up and wanted to get started. I refused until 7am. Steve is a little more indulgent...and lets them thumb through Santa stuff and stockings.

Alec stoked about his iHOME alarm clock for his iTouch. Anything to do with his iTouch or the Indianapolis Colts...Alec loves.

I know I will be seeing this sweatshirt everyday, all day, until it's just too warm to put it on. Not pictured is his totally awesome Potter Barn Teen AFC logo sheets and navy blue duvet with Colts logo on it bedding and BB gun. It's so cool!!

Rachel styling in her orange sweatshirt that Alec gave her for Christmas. He took one look at that in Old Navy and said, "That's what I am getting Rachel, she'll totally love it because it's orange!"

Rachel is so practical with her wants. She wanted a video camera...so she got a FLIP from Grandma and Grandpa Hibler. It has been used daily. And not just by her. Not pictured is a rock tumbler ( I hate it!) and her Style Savy and Cooking Mama 3 games for her DS.

Ever since her birthday, Amy has wanted an "American Dirl Goll" (remember what she calls it from her birthday blog) bed. Well, Santa brought one. As you can see...she loved it. She forgot all about the orange camera she earlier asked Santa for.

You can't tell from here...but that would be her very own pink DS that Amy is hugging. Not pictured is a DS game, American Dirl Goll crafts.

Amy's top gift? The Christmas marshmallows she found in her stocking. She ate 3/4 of the bag before breakfast.

The kids gave me a much needed stool for around the house. When you are trying to reach the top cupboard...being short really sucks.

If I didn't love him so much...I would kill my husband. We agreed on very simple Christmas presents this year because of all the things we wanted to buy or have bought for the new house. I was completely content with the shutters we were putting the house for Christmas. And he was happy with garage closets and new couches for his Christmas presents. But, no...he didn't listen. And I should have known this from past agreements we have made at Christmas that he wasn't going to follow our plan. You are looking at one of the most special and most thoughtful gifts Steve has ever gave me. But, the necklace is only the symbol of the real gift. He wrote this letter to me that I will cherish forever. So, the necklace just reminds me of the letter and all that was written inside the card. But, it doesn't hurt that the necklace is beautiful too. I LOVE YOU STEVE!

THE END

Christmas Card

For journal purposes I like to post our Christmas card picture and letter we send out to our family and friends that live far way. Here is 2009's:

Greetings from the Jensen Family,

We hope this letter finds you and your family happy, healthy, and enjoying the Holiday Season. Life has been good to the Jensen’s this past year, so we’ll just “cut to the chase” and fill you in on the highlights of each month.

January was full of indoor soccer games. Rachel joined an indoor soccer league with several of her favorite team-mates from past outdoor teams.

February had a little of everything. Father/Daughter Night with Rachel, Amy started ballet, and Alec earned his Life-Scout rank advancement badge. He is now working on his Eagle and hopes to have it within the year.

March brought the best news of the year. Amy’s body has responded well to the shots and medication to treat her Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. We’ve been able to eliminate the daily ibuprofen and hope to have the disease in complete remission by this time next year.

April brought a surprise trip to England for Steve and Trisha. Steve had business, but we were able to work in several days of driving around the English countryside (last time we mostly stayed in London). Highlights were Warwick and Dover Castle, The Ancient Roman Baths, and all the charming and fairy-tale-like villages of the Cotswold’s (seriously they still have thatched roofs and cute cobble stone streets).

May was the end of several months of training for Trisha. She ran her first, but not last, half marathon.

June marked a milestone for the Jensen’s. Alec turned 13, which gave Steve and Trisha their first teenager. So far…so good.

July brought the annual camping trip to Lake Tahoe, swimming and golf tournaments for Alec. At the Tri-Valley Championships Alec smashed his individual backstroke time, but lost 1st place by only .01 seconds.

August Rachel turned 10. August also brought a trip to Canada for a family reunion and family vacation. We visited Waterton Park, and both Banff and Jasper National Park. The mountains and scenery were absolutely breathtaking. The lakes look like they’re filled with blue PowerAde (due to glacial silt). In fact our Christmas picture this year was taken in front of Moraine Lake, near Banff. We’re definitely heading back up there soon.

September brought work, work, and more work for Steve as the fiscal year came to an end.

October’s highlight was the “girls” vacation to L.A. to the American Girl Doll Store and Disneyland. The men stayed home and went to the President’s Cup Golf Tournament in San Francisco.

November we listed our home on the market and sold it within 2 weeks. We thought we’d take advantage of the soft market and upgrade our house. We bought a new home we had been looking at for over a year.

December 4th we moved into our new house. Our new address is 2728 Rivers Bend Circle, Livermore CA 94550. It’s only about 1 mile away from our old house. We love it and are busy moving in and making it into a “home”.

That’s the quick summary of 2009. If you want to follow the Jensen’s more closely check out our family blog. www.trishajensen.blogspot.com

We would like to wish your and your family a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

Love,
Steve, Trisha, Alec, Rachel, and Amy